Blue Bell

by Sasha Fino

  horse.

  “I survived thanks to you, Mr. Ashbrook.”

  “May I help you down?” I give him an unsure look.

  “Yes, my head is spinning. Where are the others?” I asked him as he tied both horses to a tree, caught me around the waist, and lifted me to the ground.

  “I yelled to Billy to lead the rest to safety and that we’d catch up with them, but now I don’t know if we can find them in the growing dark. With so many riders, I doubt if he would leave them between the rain and the growing darkness. We can find shelter, make camp, and look for them in the morning. The others will come looking for us then. The horses are blown, and we should give them a break. They can drink from the creek, and we can toggle their legs, so they don’t wander. Let’s get their saddles off.”

  “That makes sense to me. Okay, let’s set up camp for the night Good thing we each carried our gear.” The sudden release from fear left me more stimulated and alive than I had ever experienced. Now I found myself alone with a man I decidedly found sexy, in the moonlight and the beauty of a wilderness shimmering with raindrops. It made me wonder what the night had in store for us.

  While I fed, watered, and toggled the horses’ legs to keep them from wandering off in the night, Ashbrook set up a tent and started a fire as the rain petered out. The ground was wet, and the air smelled clean and fresh. There was a slight breeze blowing. He found dry wood under some nearby rocks and used

  waterproof matches he had thoughtfully added to his camping gear. While we talked around the fire, I learned that Ashbrook loved the Rolling Stones, a band that enjoyed enormous fame and popularity in the 1960s. Mick Jagger was one of his idols, and he owned every record the group produced. Both Ashbrook and I were huge movie buffs, and Ashbrook enjoyed writing every bit as much as I did.

  I was surprised to find I was once more attracted to the sound of his voice. His beautiful, jet black hair glowed in the light of the fire, and I liked his slightly rugged, yet refined features.

  I confided in Ashbrook about my life back in Portland. Ash-brook couldn’t help but laugh as I told him about the predicament’s and grand adventures that my grandma had at Blue Bell. Although I was beginning to feel very fond of Ashbrook, I knew who he was – a pimp who turned all my friends into ladies of the night.

  Since there was only room for one tent in the small, dry space we had found, Ashbrook gallantly insisted I take it, claiming that he had been a master Boy Scout decades ago. I gamely asserted that I had been a member of an élite Girl Scout troop, and my dad was the troop leader! I felt very much at ease bantering with him and experienced a sudden warmth toward this strange and wonderful man.

  As darkness entirely fell, our glances met over the firelight and, embarrassed, we looked away. Ashbrook offered to share a sandwich and chips he had brought along for dinner. Dinner would be provided, and I had only packed trail mix and apples.

  We added the trail mix to our repast and gave the apples to the horses as we sat on my picnic blanket in companionable silence. It was the perfect evening after my harrowing ride, and I felt grateful to Ashbrook for coming to my aid while he sang me Happy Birthday. He had shown me aside that he never had before

  – a thoughtful and gracious gentleman, and I was surprised to find I truly enjoyed his company.

  “That was a great dinner, Mr. Ashbrook,” I said, finishing my last bite.

  “Thank you. My family and I camp out twice each summer with tents and backpacks. No RVs for us!”

  I had not thought of Ashbrook as a father. “You have two sons, right?” I asked.

  “Yes, one is ten and the other is seven living with my ex-wife. She left me right after our second son was born.”

  “I don’t blame her for leaving you. What you are doing with my dear uncle is sinful,” I haughtily told him.

  “Let’s talk about your problems at Academy now we’re alone in these woods.”

  “Damn you; I knew when I let my guard down you would find a way in. I am here to forget Academy for my seventeenth birthday.”

  “All of your friends miss you. You have been in your own world. I need to talk to you about this matter. Your dad called me to check up on you, and we spoke of your behavior. I had to tell him you were insolent,” he proclaimed.

  “Sorry, they are backstabbers. I can’t forgive them, even my family.” There went my women’s rights action group against this Academy.

  “Audra, what has happened to you?” As if he didn’t know; as if his evil ways had nothing to do with my situation or how I behaved.

  “You have turned bitter, cold like ice to everyone. Where did that sweet and happy-go-lucky Audra go who made me laugh, put a smile to my face and made my whole day?” he asked looking right at me.

  “That’s what happens after you get your heart broken many times over and over again,” I replied.

  “Did I break your young, sweet little heart? Do we have to end a wonderful friendship?” he asked as I looked at him. “Do we have to continue fighting when we return to Academy? I liked how it used to feel between us,” he suggested. I remembered back to the days when I was fourteen and new on campus, curious if he would be the guy that I would give my body to for my first time.

  I felt a pull at my heart from the dark side of me that reminded me of another part to Ashbrook, one that I longed to see – his romantic side, even though I knew he was evil.

  “Yes. Oh god, yes,” I started sobbing.

  “Forgive me, Audra. I am sorry …” he gushed while pulling me into his strong embrace.

  The sweet scent of his cologne drew me in and caused me to react to him. I said it. “Dammit! I love you, Mr. Ashbrook. I never stopped loving you deep in my heart,” I confessed to him, letting my heart rule my mind even when I knew better.

  Ashbrook turned my face to the stars now that the sky had cleared of clouds and rain.

  “Make a wish, birthday girl,” he whispered as I peered back to him, wishing to be a year older than I was. Ashbrook moved to throw a log on the fire and cut his hand on the rough bark. “I have a first aid kit in my pack; I’ll get it,” I told him, as I returned to staunch the blood and clean and bandage the cut.

  “I could kiss it and make it better,” I teased him.

  Before I realized what was happening, he took me up on it and leaned in, his eyes bright and his lips looking soft and inviting. Still a virgin, my body responded to his strong arms and the scent of him as he slid those breathtaking lips down my throat and across my collarbones. I wanted more but was unsure how to encourage him, so I nestled my breasts against his broad chest and held him to me in a loving embrace. As he pulled away, he slipped his hand under my shirt and around my bra, loosening the clasp. I could feel his hot breath as he caressed each nipple and I could feel the moisture forming between my legs and an ache I had never felt before. My legs felt weak as I pulled his head up to my mouth and felt the warmth of his tongue tickling my own. As he pulled away, his eyes asked the question, and I offered him my virginity.

  The next thing I knew we went into the tent on the off-chance a mountain lion, wolf, or search party would stumble across us. We pulled at each other’s clothes and explored each other’s bodies – discovering every pleasure point. Ashbrook took his time arousing me to make sure I would remember this night, which he hoped would be the first of many to come. I had found the night to be much less awkward than I had expected, and was uninhibited as Ashbrook rode me to ecstasy time after time.

  I loved the feel of him inside my body and the strength of his thrusts. I moved my hips to meet him and wrapped my long legs around his body as he cupped my buttocks and softly called my name. I could hear the horses pawing the ground outside, possibly unsettled by the sounds of our lovemaking. I gasped with joy as I felt my first orgasm, never wanting him to leave my body again. It was a heart-stopping climax.

  “I love you, Audra,” Ashbrook breathlessly told me. “Oh my god, I came inside you,” he said with a slight panic in his voice. I sta
red at him, and I replied, “I love you.” He happily kissed my lips.

  The sex between us had felt frenzied and fulfilling to me. It was everything I’d wanted my first time to be and there was more cuddling to Ashbrook and whispering sweet nothings. I speculated if having sex had been a good idea or not, knowing he

  was the ringleader of the prostitution ring; but now he was mine, and I knew it. Breaking my vow to myself and the Bloodline group, I had turned Ashbrook from my enemy into my love.

  A few day later, I confessed what I had done with Ashbrook to Lindsay and Chloe. Both of them are astonished that I even had sex that past night with Ashbrook. Questioning me, they wanted to know if I’m planned on seducing Mr. Ashbrook in order to break him. I was speechless having no answer for them or myself. Could that be the reason I gave in to his seduction? It might as well be, I told myself… I better come up with something or these girls will decide I am just as evil as he is…

  We talk over our problems out. They joined whole brothel thing in order to become spies so we could break up the prostitution ring.

  I didn’t realize that was their reasoning that day back in that mandatory meeting. What a dumbass I’ve been. I confess to Lindsay, Britney, Bryce, and Chloe I just didn’t know and we all makeup. They told me the details of what happens in the brothel and the rules they are made to follow. I wrote it all down.

  The rest of the year I have carefully carried out with my love affair with Ashbrook. I am enjoying his attention, yet telling them I am only doing it so we can break him and his ring apart once we have a good amount of evidence. We hide it well, performing like we still hate each other around the school’s hallways. No one had assumed that nothing is going on between us. I carried on writing like always. I even convinced Ashbrook. that I needed to continue writing against him or someone would suspect our love affair.

  I kept finding 1ime to be with Ashbrook, falling more in love him. And still wondering why I loved someone so evil. What does that say about me and what I do?

  I loved spending my time making love to him all day long on Sunday’s. All the while the girls still came to me telling me about the sexual abuse that was happening to them. Knowing rape and prostitution were going on at the same time while Ashbrook made beautiful love to me. Why can sex be heaven or hell? What should I do about it now? If I tell, I lose Ashbrook forever…

  Ashbrook admits to me that he wants only me; promising to not have sex or a relationship with anyone else. He tells me that he has been married once with a son that’s five years older than me. The marriage never worked, because of his job. His wife left him years ago because he had to be the school’s headmaster and she didn’t want to live in the country around all these children that consumed his time. He knew his family had ran the prostitution ring for years and he was to turn a blind eye to the rape and such. He admitted that someone more powerful will kill him if he gets out of line. I tried to get their name or names out of him, but he refused to tell me.

  Ashbrook confirmed to me that’s the school had been opened all those years ago as a cover for sex trafficking young girls and the schools has ties right to the top of Washington DC. His family still ran Blue Bell and were forced to carry on or be killed, yes, they made money from the school, but not the actual prostitution and sex trafficking—all of that money was funneled up to men much more powerful than him.

  I was so stunned to learn this; I did not tell anyone this critical piece information to anyone out of my love for Ashbrook.

  One night I dreamt that I was back in the wood’s walking, stopping to hear some girl calling my name. She asks me if I’m Rosemary’s granddaughter Audra. I told her yes, I am. She said her name, Dana. Dana tells me that she’s a ghost and she has watched me the whole time. She went on to tell me that was proud of what I’m fighting for and until I started to sleep with that man, she thought I might actually end the abuse. She begins screaming at me, “Do not trust Ashbrook, Audra! Murder is coming” I am startled awake before I could respond to Dana.

  Ashbrook being a bed hog that night and he had kicked me awake suddenly. I laid in bed pondering, “Did I really dream up Dana or was she really a ghost that visited me in my sleep?”

  Because I was open to communication to her the first time, I’ve continued to dreamed of Dana almost every night and sometimes she sends me a warning and other nights she peers gloomy at me saying nothing. I continue to wonder whom is she and why is she haunting my dreams; I haven’t found anything with her name on it in my research at the school newspaper office.

  Summer break was here, I didn’t want to go back home. I was so moody because I kept thinking about the fact I’ll be away from Ashbrook for the whole summer, I had at least convinced my dad to not let me “work” over the summers at this point and I really couldn’t go back on that request without drawing suspicion from him.

  The night before I fly home for summer break, we made love all night long at a 5-star hotel suite. Ashbrook had made excuses to the others that I had to be at the airport super early so he would take me to town and stay the night before so I could make the airport on time, promising to get two hotel rooms. He paid for two but we only needed one.

  I slept fitfully on the plane dreaming of Dana all the way back home. “Set me free, find it.” Dana keep on saying.

  I arrived home to wonderful news. Dad and Charlotte an announced they were getting married and had a baby on the way. I was so thrilled to become a big sister at Christmas time. They saw my happy glowing, I told them I’m dating Lionel swiftly as an excuse for my happiness. They had all wanted to know who the lucky guy was. I recall thinking “Love is heavenly once you discovered it.” But I knew I could never tell them that I

  was having a love affair with my Headmaster at Blue Bell.

  I’ve found myself striding out to the enormous rose garden. I saw my grandma sitting alone on a terrace seated on the bench,

  weeping while the sun was setting. Sitting beside her since we have not talked to each other since that past Christmas. It is time to call a truce between us, I know she loves me.

  “My dear Audra. I don’t want my new grandchild to go to Blueblood. Look at you at seventeen, and I’ve turned you in someone I didn’t want you to be… can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?”

  “Yes, Grandma. Forgive me too Grandma, I miss you!” I reply.

  We carried on the discussion that in fact, she did have sex willing and unwilling while she attended Blue Bell. Confessing that she was so in love with my great-grandfather and got married to his son, my grandpa, to stay close to him when he wouldn’t marry her himself because she was pregnant, making my great-grandpa really my grandpa, She had never told my dad that his real birth father was his grandpa and because he said he loved his wife he wouldn’t leave her to marry my dad’s mom. I’m the first to know of this.

  I couldn’t help myself and said to her that I’m romantically involved with Ashbrook. Grandma smiled at me strangely, “I thought so of the way both of you have always been at each other’s throats, grand love sometimes can blossom out of pure hatred, it is a fine line my dear…”

  I inquired from her if she had known a girl named Dana while she been there. Grandma turned white as a ghost and began to weep more. Grandma pulled out the picture of her best friend at Blue Bell from her night stand, and tells me that it is Dana. She explained she had made a name up for her while she told me stories before; because of the tragic things that had happened to Dana. Dana had been a lot like me; wanting to expose the school and its dark sinister ways.

  Dana had gone too far, found out too much, and paid the price with her life. Grandma was forced to watch her being murdered by someone made to look as if she committed suicide. Dana had hidden a key in a box in the thickest part the woods, that box has more information on the school grandma tells me. She went on to tell how scared she was when these men tried to murder her after they had murdered Dana. Those men had found out Dana had taken their golden key and a box of in
formation to hide in the woods. They thought that she helped Dana.

  My Grandma ran for her life with my great-grandfather to where he lived in Portland, where he had taken her because he couldn’t stand the thought of her being murdered too.

  There she met my grandpa, they began dating. She discovered she had gotten pregnant by my great-grandfather. She hadn’t had sex with grandpa yet. So, grandma got in bed with my grandpa and seduced him, so she could tell everyone that she’s pregnant with my grandpa and not be labeled trash.

  She confessed to me it was hard to get married to grandpa while her heart still belonged to my great-grandfather. Sobbing by now, grandma Rosemary is hugging me while I tell her of my many dreams of Dana.

  “Oh, Audra, I imagine Dana needs your help! I never could help her! You must find that box she hid in the woods. In truth, that’s the whole reason why I wanted you to go to Blue Bell. I always dream of Dana too, asking me for help,” Grandma remar0ked.

  A ringing went off in my mind, loud—just like the day we found that trap door. The key must be under the trap door in the woods. I will have to face those woods again to help Dana.

  I begin to make a plan…

  In the middle of summer, I got a call from Mr. Ashbrook asking me to come to see him at his beach cottage. With my grandma’s help, I went quickly, making excuses to my friends, I told everyone it’s a last-minute decision on a three-week summer project for school. Little did he know, I had a plan to expose the evil he really was…

  We had a such a romantic time on the play war (the card game), long walks on the beach, exploring the beach town, enjoying each other, it began to make me lose sight of my plan to end his sinister ways. Keeping up the act of couple in love confused my heart and my mind. I drank wine with Ashbrook, it was my first real drinking experience. I must admit I liked it a little too much.